Abstract
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure ng/L quantities of uranium in solution. Pneumatic nebulization and ultrasonic nebulization were compared. The spectral integration period was varied to study the effects of counting statistics. Analyte detection at m/z 238 was found to be blank limited. Under optimal conditions (i.e., with the use of ultrasonic nebulization and an 11-s integration period per m/z), uranium detection limits (3σ) at m/z 234 (not blank limited) were found to be 0.1 ng/L in 18-MΩ water. The uranium detection limit at m/z 234 was 0.5 ng/L when a 2.5-g/L NaNO3 solution was nebulized. Normalized instrument response for uranium in 18-MΩ water agreed well with that in 2.5-g/L NaNO3.
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